Folding pack and table for automobiles



Oct. 21, 1930. STRQM ET AL v 1,779,342

I FOLDING RACK AND TABLE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Oct. 10, 1928 rC r 75 A l d l I "/46 A /4 g l eg? I I /4' v E /0 INvENIwi'a' @K KM 'md- .13)? 5- Patented .21, 1930 ERNEST STROM Ann REX L. ROCKWELL, F. smraunamnnsorn' Fonmim' RAC AND TABLE roe AuroMoBiLEs "A lication fi1ed 0ctober.10, 1928. Serial No. 311,599. M

Our. invention relates toa foldingrack and table of a type particularlyadaptable for use on the running board of motor vehicles. V l i The main object of this invention is to provide a simple, durable and efiicient collapsible device readily attachable to a running board and adapted to be raised to one set position to serve as a luggage carrier and adapted further, to be expanded to provide a convenient table. Further objects of our invention and its usefulness are hereinafter fully set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which,-

Fig. 1 is a top viewyof our collapsible rack and table device folded up and attached to,

a runningboardof an automobile or other flat horizontal element. ff-

FigIQ'isa'right hand end elevation of our device in Fig. 1 but fully extendedto serve as a table. g Fig. 3 is a front view of the right hand end of the device fully extended and looking as toward Fig. 2 from the left, showlng certain details of construction more clearly. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of our device in operative position as a table on the running board of a car,v showing portions of adjacent parts of a car body.

Referring to the drawing by reference numerals, 5 designates a preferred article to which our device is attached namely one of the running boards at theside 6 of a motor vehicle, said board in most cases, particularly on so-called pleasure cars, being about 12 to 16 inches above the ground and in horizontal plane.

The device comprises two U-shaped clamping members 7 adapted to straddle the running board 5 transversely and clamped thereto each by suitable set screws 8 engaging the under side of board 5. Said clamps are parallel and in spaced relation each provided with an aperture in the upper part of its -c1osed end for receiving apivot bolt 9, said latter bolts engaging in apertures at the opposite lower part of end members of an elongated quadrangular open frame 10 preferably made of angle-iron. The clamp mem- 7 501mm are spacedslightly from the adjacent end parts of the frame 10 and said space receives a folding two armed brace 11 pivotally securedwithoneendi to theclamp as at 12 andflits opposite end likewise secured as at 13 to the upper corner .partofthejadjacent end of the main frame. In Fi 1 the mid braces areshown folded withthe mainframe lying horizontally between the upper arms ofthe two clamps and in Figs. 2 and 4 the frame 10 is raised to vertical showing the brace 11 extended. Thus is provided a simple collapsible luggage carrier, it being un derstood that as such the space within. the

upright frame 10 is closed by a foldable ele;

ment which will now be described.

141 are two"counter'part triangular braces each comprising a short vertical post pivotally mounted between the long parallel bars and near'one end her of the mainframe 10, as at 15;, and an integral upper arm 14A eX- tending from said post at right angles. Each said brace -coinprises further an inclined brace -14B andsmaller interior braces 1 1C, all in-common plane and providing a lightq triangular frame of ample strength. ItEis obvious that these pivoted triangular braces 7 maybe madein anumber ofgothen waysf equally-efficient to that shown.

Bothbraces may be swungto lieflat within main "frame 10 Tand may overlap each othenjas best shown in Fig; 1.1 *Inframej 1Q, above 'fsaid pivoted l braces we provide. a multil-leaf sectional tabletop, all s'ectionsiof I whiclrare hinged to each other and the top section "furtherhinged'as by means of hinges 16 to'the upperlong bar ofthe main frame 101' ,For illustrative purpose a three section table top, is shown comprising a top section A, hinged at 16. as'describecL a middle sec? tio'n'B connected. toA as by, apiano hinge l7 'and anouter Section G .hingedly connected to the'opposite edgeof section B also pref- .erably byaflpiano-type hinge 17:. The free edge of the outer section is preferably reenforced by alight angle-iron 18. The sec tions A, B and C: are of such sizes that they may be folded up to lie flat against each other, by swinging them asvindic ated by arrows 19 in Fig. 2. Then the hinges serve as a common hangerfor a1l the'sections (folded) and which may thus be laid fiat on top of the folded braces 14, within the frame 10, when the latter lies flat on the running board.

When it is desired to have the device serve as a table the main frame is first raised to vertical plane, as in Fig. 2, then the hingedly connected table top sections A, B and C- are unfolded and extended outwardly, after which the braces 14 are swung out from frame 10 and at right angles thereto, to support the opposite end parts of the table top sections simultaneously.

20 represents any suitable type of flexible means such as a chain, one for each support frame 14 one end of which chain is secured to a lower bar of the main frame, near one end of said frame, and its other end attached to a lower part of brace 14B of the adjacent brace frame, to limit the outward swinging of the latter.

21 is a catch member at each outer corner of the table part C, comprising preferably an outwardly opening channel shaped piece fixed on the said part on its under side. The

limit of outward movement of each brace frame should be such that the said brace must be sprung out from its normal outer position, as to dotted line position 14 in Fig. 3 which brings the extreme outer end of brace 14 outwardly of the catch member 21 which is subsequently engaged when member 14 is released and springs back, as to full line position in Fig. 3 and as also shown in Fig. 2. Thus the extended table top not only rests on said braces 14 but it engages frictionally at its outer corners, simultaneously and a rigid, and convenient table is provided at the side of an automobile.

In Figs. 1 and 3, 22 is a close coil spring withopposite hook members, one engaging each chain 20 and the other hook member thereof adapted to be engaged in an aperture 23 or equivalent means on-the top section A of the table when the table leaves or sections are folded and laid within frame 10,. the spring 22 being of course then in tension to hold said'table top sections down securely in place. Other means may be used for holding the folded device down flat on the running board. It is now clear that our device is very compact when in folded position, lying fiat on the running board in a plane not high enough to interfere with opening or closing of car doors. As designed, in substantial materials, the device can be stepped on when folded flat, without damage. As a luggage carrier the main frame is of course raised only to vertical position with the folded table top sections remaining therein and serving as an outer wall for the devic when used as a luggage carrier.

l/Ve claim: I

In combination, a portable luggage carricr and table comprising a pair of end brackets detachably securable transversely on a horizontal flat element, a quadrangular main frame pivotally mounted to and between said brackets and adapted to be swung from a flat plane between said brackets to a vertical plane,knee joints connecting each said bracket to an adjacent part of said frame and limiting movement of the latter to an upright position, a sectional, collapsible table top pivotally connected to the upper horizontal edge part of said main frame remote from its hinged connection with the brackets, table supporting brace pivotally mounted in -said frame and adapted to be swung out therefrom to support the table top in extended condition and in a horizontal plane, said sectional table top comprising a series of flat plates hingedly connected to each other and all adapted to be selectively folded against each other or extended outwardly in horizontal plane, and a reenforcing element at the free edge of the outermost plate, and brace engaging means fixed to the outer corner parts of said latter plate to be engaged inwardly by the outermost parts of said braces, simultaneously, and said braces comprising in part an upper horizontal bar adapted to support the end edges of the table plates.

In testimony, whereof we affix our signatures. v ERNEST STROM. REX L. ROCKWELL. 

